Background. Children with autism exhibit difficulties with social interaction and
communication skills, and they present with restricted interests and stereotyped patterns of behaviour that affect their daily lives. Floor time play (FTP) is an intervention
approach that addresses these issues; however, there are few published studies on its
effectiveness. Purpose. This study determines the effectiveness of FTP intervention
with a child diagnosed with autism. Methods. A single subject AB design was used
with circles of communication as the behaviour indicator for improvement. Visual
and statistical analyses were completed. The child’s mother kept a daily journal describing FTP intervention sessions at home. Findings. Despite variability in the data,
statistical analyses indicate a significant difference between the numbers of circles
of communication during the intervention phase as compared with the observation
phase. Implications. This study provides preliminary evidence for the use of the FTP
approach with a child with autism.